BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1434

By: Buckley

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Having an entire municipal governing body up for election at one time can be disruptive and leads to the possibility of complete turnover in one election. However, a Type A general-law municipality currently does not have the authority to avoid this scenario by adopting staggered terms for municipal aldermen if the municipality does not already have staggered terms. H.B. 1434 seeks to provide the governing body of a Type A general-law municipality the authority to vote to stagger the terms of its aldermen.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1434 amends the Local Government Code to authorize the governing body of a Type A general-law municipality whose aldermen are not already serving staggered terms of office to establish staggered terms by majority vote. The bill requires that the staggering be accomplished by the aldermen drawing lots.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.